Tag Archives: Trigonopoma

Trigonopoma pauciperforatum

2. December 2019

In the black water of Sundaland (Indonesia, Malay Peninsula) you will find many wonderful aquarium fish like chocolate gouramis, harlequin barbs and kuhli loaches. However, these are only the best known; the numerous species of small and colourful barbs and rasboras, for example, are only known by a few.

Among them is Trigonopoma pauciperforatum (formerly Rasbora pauciperforata), which we have once again received from Indonesia, one of the prettiest. In fact, the fish, usually up to 4 cm long (some literature say up to 7 cm), looks like a twin species of the glow-light tetra (Hemigrammus erythrozonus) from the Essequibo River in Guyana, although the muzzle of T. pauciperforatum is much more pointed and the adipose fin is missing.

For our customers: the animals have code 452602 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Trigonopoma gracile (= Rasbora taeniata)

4. March 2019

We could import this pretty fish finally once more via Singapore. The two species of the genus Trigonopoma were placed in the genus Rasbora for a very long time. The second species, T. pauciperforata, the glowlight rasbora, occurs interestingly very often syntopically with its close relative.

In the elder aquarium literature Trigonopoma gracile was usually named Rasbora taeniata. The first importation to Germany was as early as 1913; at that time is was not yet known to science yet. Persons interested in the history of the species and the different names should study the paper of Zarske in the Aquaristik Fachmagzin 213 (June/July 2010), which can be downloaded for free from Dr Axel Zarskes homepage at Senckenberg Museum. Sadly it is available in German only.

The pretty rasbora attains a maximum length of about 5 cm. In the natural habitat it can be found along with fish like harlequin rasboras (Trigonostigma heteromorpha) or chocolate gouramis (Sphaerichthys osphronemoides). The rasbora is a perfect community fish for tanks with soft and acidic water, a dark bottom (place some peat on it) and delicate water plants.

For our customers: the fish have code 452002 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer